Because the company can offer a weekly paycheck at market rates, of course. Why else would someone work at any company at all? VC funds with dozens or hundreds

Because the company can offer a weekly paycheck at market rates, of course. Why else would someone work at any company at all? VC funds with dozens or hundreds of investments may like a landscape where one or two make a 10x or 100x valuation and the rest go bust chasing that goal, but I personally can't afford to gamble my family's future with my 2,000 hours per year on a 1% chance that my employer will rocket to the moon. Also, job-hunting is a pain, I'd prefer that my employer not go through massive layoffs or risk bankruptcy unnecessarily. Equity growth or profit-sharing bonuses are just that - bonuses, mostly ignored when comparing total comp unless the 'bonus' is extremely stable and reliable. I need to take home a reasonable salary in exchange for my labor.